Holiday park accommodation refusing to refund?

Tracy62

We booked two nights in a lodge at our local holiday park for a family get together 6-8 April. Firstly the activity park closed due to coronavirus and we were told that the accommodation part was a 'separate company' and the one being closed did not affect our booking (although it did as we were staying there specifically for the farm park). The accommodation part has now had to close because of government lockdown rules but they are refusing to refund us, saying that they can't afford it and have the animals to feed (the animals in the park that is apparently a separate company....).  They have asked people to claim back via credit card  companies but our card company (Sainsbury's) have said that they would contact the park as part of the process and that we might not get back all of the money (£459).  Surely the park should refund us as they are unable to provide the service we have paid for? Failing that, shouldn't we be able to get the full amount back from the credit card company? Any advice gratefully received.  Thank you!

Galloglass

It all depends on the contract and who it was with. What did the booking form say with regards to Terms and Conditions?

Having booked by Credit card you have "s75 protection" so you will get [some of ] your money back. If you want all of your money back, and subject to the terms you agreed, you will have to issue a claim against the holiday park for breach of contract.

Alan_Bowen

The holiday park is being very foolish, suggesting you make a claim against your card. If the bank give you your money back, they debit the bank account into which it was paid in the first place, the holiday park's and charge them a fee for the pleasure of doing so. The only time the bank actually pays out is if the business has ceased to trade, and that isn't the case here

Tracy62

Galloglass said:

It all depends on the contract and who it was with. What did the booking form say with regards to Terms and Conditions?

Having booked by Credit card you have "s75 protection" so you will get [some of ] your money back. If you want all of your money back, and subject to the terms you agreed, you will have to issue a claim against the holiday park for breach of contract.

The terms and conditions are all about if we cancel within so many weeks of the booking they won't refund etc etc. Interestingly the email they sent out is worded as if it's the customers' problem as we can't get to them...err...you're closed!! Trawling through though they do have a 'force majeure' clause (non-specific) which is presumably where they'll try and get us